Axial valve

Abstract

The invention relates to an axial valve comprising an actuator ( 15 ) and a center tube ( 19 ). The actuator comprises a stationary element ( 16 ) and a closing element ( 17 ), and the center tube ( 19 ) is placed axially in relation to an axial extension of the stationary element ( 16 ). The center tube ( 19 ) is in a fixed position relative to the stationary element ( 16 ). Fluid, such as refrigerant, is intended for flowing through the valve and through the center tube. The center tube ( 19 ) comprises orifices ( 22 ) for fluid passage. The closing element ( 17 ) is placed axially to an axial extension of the center tube ( 19 ) and is movable axially along the center tube between a first position, where the closing element closes the orifices ( 22 ) of the center tube, thereby not allowing fluid to pass the orifices, and a second position, where the orifices ( 22 ) are open, thereby allowing fluid to pass the orifices.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An axial valve comprising an actuator, the actuator comprising a stationary element and a closing element,
 the valve having a substantially longitudinal extension along a prevailing flow direction of fluid through the valve, 
 the valve comprising a center tube placed axially in relation to an axial extension of the stationary element, 
 the center tube being in a fixed position relative to the stationary element and placed parallel to the longitudinal extension of the valve, 
 and fluid intended for flowing through the valve, through the center tube, said center tube comprises one or more orifices for fluid passage, 
 the closing element being placed axially to an axial extension of the center tube and at least partly extending along a sidewall of the center tube, 
 the closing element being movable axially along the center tube between a first position, where the closing element closes the one or more orifices, thereby not allowing fluid to pass the orifices, and a second position where the one or more orifices are open, thus allowing fluid to pass the orifices,
 wherein the actuator is a stepper motor, the stationary element is a stator, and the closing element is a rotor, and 
 wherein rotational movement of the closing element generates a linear movement of the closing element. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The axial valve according to  claim 1 , wherein the center tube is fixed to the stationary element, and wherein the center tube is supported from the stationary element, so that the axial extension of the center tube is aligned with an axis of the stationary element. 
     
     
       3. The axial valve according to  claim 1 , wherein a first end of the center tube is fixed to a first flange, and a second end of the center tube is fixed to a second flange, wherein one end of the stationary element is fixed to the first flange, and another end of the stationary element is fixed to the second flange, so that the axial extension of the center tube is aligned with an axis of the stationary element by both the center tube and the stationary element being fixed to the same first flange and the same second flange, respectively. 
     
     
       4. The axial valve according to  claim 1 , wherein the closing element is positioned along a sidewall of the center tube, and wherein the closing element is movably guided by the center tube, and wherein the closing element is supported by the center tube. 
     
     
       5. The axial valve according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more orifices of the center tube are positioned along a sidewall of the center tube, allowing fluid to pass to or from the center tube through the sidewall of the center tube, when the closing element is not in the first position. 
     
     
       6. The axial valve according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more orifices of the center tube are positioned in a first end of the center tube, allowing fluid to pass to or from the center tube through the first end of the center tube by passing from outside the center tube to an inside of the center tube, or from inside the center tube to the outside of the center tube, when the closing element is not in the first position. 
     
     
       7. The axial valve according to  claim 1 , wherein the closing element is tubular, wherein an axial extension of the closing element extends parallel to the axial extension of the center tube, and wherein the closing element extend along a sidewall of the center tube, and wherein the closing element is both rotatable and axially movable along the sidewall of the center tube. 
     
     
       8. The axial valve according to  claim 1 , wherein the center tube is provided with one or more orifices along the sidewall of the center tube, and wherein a sealing, at least when the closing element is in the first position, is provided between the sidewall surface of the center tube and the sidewall surface of the closing element, said sidewall of the center tube and said sidewall of the closing element facing each other, at least when the closing element is in the first position. 
     
     
       9. The valve according to  claim 1 , where one end of the center tube is supported by a first flange extending from the center tube, and another end of the center tube is supported by a second flange extending from the center tube, and where the closing element is positioned between the first flange and a bottom flange, and where the stationary element also, as is the case with the center tube, is supported by the first flange and the second flange. 
     
     
       10. The valve according to  claim 1 , wherein the closing element is positioned between the center tube and the stationary element, wherein the closing element is supported by an outer sidewall of the center tube, and wherein the stationary element is positioned along an outer circumference of the closing element. 
     
     
       11. The valve according to  claim 1 , wherein the closing element is positioned inside the center tube, wherein the closing element is supported along an inner sidewall of the center tube, and wherein the stationary element is positioned along an outer circumference of the center tube. 
     
     
       12. The axial valve according to  claim 1 , where the closing element is constantly biased towards the first position by a biasing element with a biasing force, and wherein the biasing element is capable of moving the closing element to the first position, where the closing element closes the one or more orifices of the center tube, thereby not allowing fluid to pass the orifices, in case the operating force of a stepper motor decrease to a value less than the biasing force. 
     
     
       13. The axial valve according to  claim 1 , where the closing element is constantly biased towards the second position by a biasing element with a biasing force, and wherein the biasing element is capable of moving the closing element to the second position, where the closing element opens the one or more orifices of the center tube, thereby allowing fluid to pass the orifices, in case the operating force of a stepper motor decrease to a value less than the biasing force. 
     
     
       14. A vapor compression cycle system with at least one axial valve along piping of the vapor compression cycle system, said at least one axial valve of the refrigeration system being a valve according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
       15. The axial valve according to  claim 1 , wherein the closing element extends along an inner surface of the sidewall of the center tube, so that the closing element extends along an inner surface of the center tube. 
     
     
       16. The axial valve according to  claim 15 , wherein the inner surface of the center tube is provided with a screw thread, and the outer surface of the closing element is provided with a screw thread, said screw thread of the center tube and said screw thread of the closing element being mutually engaged, and wherein a rotational movement of the closing element is transformed to also an axial movement of the closing element in relation to the center tube. 
     
     
       17. The axial valve according to  claim 1 , wherein the closing element extends along an outer surface of the sidewall of the center tube, so that the closing element extends along an outer surface of the center tube. 
     
     
       18. The axial valve according to  claim 17 , wherein the outer surface of the center tube is provided with a screw thread, and the inner surface of the closing element is provided with a screw thread, said screw thread of the center tube and said screw thread of the closing element being mutually engaged, and wherein a rotational movement of the closing element is transformed to also an axial movement of the closing element in relation to the center tube.